Composition for enhancing the production of crystal agglomerates from a precipitation liquor

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to compositions and methods to increase the output of a high quality product from the precipitation liquor crystallization process exemplified through the aluminum hydroxide recovery processes such as the Bayer process. The invention is a method of increasing the size of precipitates from a liquor. The invention in one embodiment relates to the use of a crystal growth modifier compositions added to the precipitation process to increase the particle size distribution of the precipitated alumina trihydrate.

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/495,914, filed Jul. 1, 2009, the disclosure of which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a composition that improves recovery ofaluminum values from the aluminum hydroxide production process such asthe Bayer process. In particular, the invention relates to thecompositions and methods providing the increase of particle size ofaluminum hydroxide product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Aluminum hydroxide is produced on an industrial scale bywell-established methods such as the Bayer process. The precipitationprocess operators optimize their methods so as to produce the greatestpossible yield from the aluminate process liquors while trying toachieve a particular crystal size distribution of aluminum hydroxideproduct. It is desirable in most instances to obtain the product ofrelatively large crystal size and to correspondingly limit the amount ofvery fine crystals since this is beneficial in subsequent processingsteps required to produce aluminum metal. Production is often limited byprocessing conditions under which the crystallization and precipitationis conducted. These processing conditions vary from one plant to thenext and include, but are not limited to, temperature profiles, seedcharge, seed crystal surface area, purge of carbon dioxide or fluegases, liquor loading, liquor purity, and the like.

Extensive efforts have been invested into finding chemical additives andmethods limiting the factors negatively affecting particle size in orderto achieve the optimal economic recovery of aluminum hydroxide product.

Despite the continuous and ongoing development worldwide, the industrydemands for more economical resolution of the above-described processneeds remain. A method of such resolution suitable for obtainingaluminum hydroxide crystals with increased particle size is provided bythe present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To satisfy the industry needs identified above, a method andcompositions for obtaining aluminum hydroxide crystals with increasedparticle size have been developed.

According to the method of the present invention, the suitablecompositions are blended and introduced into the process in an amounteffective to obtain the changes desired. The compositions are introducedin their primary form without any further preparation.

The principal embodiment of the present invention is a crystal growthmodifier composition represented by an emulsion having hydrocarbon oilcontent of more than 15%. The other key ingredient of such an emulsionis a surfactant, or a blend of surfactants, with the remainingingredient being water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following are definitions that apply to the relevant terms as usedthroughout this specification.

A: Stands for aluminum concentration expressed as g/L Al₂O₃

C: Stands for sodium hydroxide or caustic concentration expressed as g/LNa₂CO₃

S: Stands for total alkali concentration expressed as g/L Na₂CO₃

A/C: Refers to the alumina to caustic ratio

CGM: This acronym stands for “crystal growth modifier.”

Oil carrier: Describes a hydrophobic liquid that can be comprised of thealiphatic or aromatic compounds such as paraffinic oils, naphthenicoils, or fuel oils.

Also, bottoms or residual waste materials remaining from the productionof aliphatic alcohols represent a suitable hydrophobic liquid.

The materials suitable as an oil carrier can be used neat or as amixture of any proportion. The oil carrier needs only be a solvent forthe surfactant or blend of surfactants and have a boiling point safelyabove the temperature of the hot aluminate liquor undergoingprecipitation (about 80° C., 176° F.).

Weight percent ratio: The total weight fraction of one reagent within100 grams of the composition or mixture.

Increase in Percent+45 μm fraction (−325 mesh): The response in allsamples is the increase in the percent+45 μm fraction of the aluminatrihydrate product (the size commonly monitored across the industry).The greater the increase, the better the CGM performance in producingthe large size crystals.

Effective amount: An effective amount is deemed any dosage of anyadditive that affords an increase in the particle size distribution asmeasured by a change in the percent+45 μm fraction of the aluminatrihydrate product.

Precipitation liquor: Refers to aluminate containing liquor in analuminum hydroxide precipitation step of an alumina production process.The aluminate liquor may be referred to as various terms known to thoseof ordinary skill in the art, for example, pregnant liquor, greenliquor, and aluminum hydroxide precipitation feed. The Bayer process isone example of an alumina production process.

The term precipitation liquor may also include the aluminate solutiondirected to decomposition in a sintering-carbonation process or combinedBayer-sintering process as accomplished by the methods well known tothose skilled in the art as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,256,709 and 3,642,437, and RU Pat. Nos. 2,184,703, 2,257,347, and2,181,695, which are herein incorporated by reference.

As described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,352, assigned to Nalco, theinvention in practice is unaffected by different proprietaryprecipitation techniques involving proprietary process parameters. Thisis of great significance because it establishes that regardless of theproprietary processing parameters maintained inside the precipitatingtank, the present invention for actual practice only requires blendingof the proposed treatment.

Precipitation feed liquor: refers to the precipitation liquor that flowsinto a precipitator of an aluminum hydroxide precipitation process.

While the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, this disclosure will describe in detail preferred embodiments ofthe invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is tobe considered as an exemplification of the principles of the inventionand is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to theembodiments illustrated.

The CGM emulsions of the present invention incorporate three basicingredients:

A1: Surfactant or a blend of surfactants

A2: Oil carrier in the amount greater than 15%.

A3: Water.

Additional components may also be present in various concentrationshowever these three basic components constitute the key ingredients forsuch CGM emulsions.

The preferred surfactant in Ingredient A1 is tall oil fatty acid, butthere are a host of equivalents. Thus, the surfactant may be a fattyacid having at least a saturated or unsaturated four carbon alkylbackbone, with or without one or more carboxylic acid, ester, anhydrideor sulfate surfactant functional groups attached directly or by asuccinic alkyl linkage. Advantageously the fatty acid may contain atleast an eight-carbon backbone with at least one of the above functionalgroups attached.

Ingredient A1 may include C8-C35 unsaturated or saturated fatty acidswith a straight or branched carbon chain or their blends.

Among the unsaturated acids preferable are palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic,linolenic, ricinoleic, eleostearic, docosahexaenoic acids,elcosapentaenoic acid, and the likes. Any combination of the unsaturatedmonobasic acids listed above may be used. Among the saturated fattyacids the acids with a straight chain are preferred, such asoctadecanoic (stearic) acid, hexadecanoic (palmitic) acid,octadecanedioic acid and hexadecandioic acid, their blend, or blendswith other saturated (and/or unsaturated) fatty acids with thehydrocarbon chains of 8-35 carbon atoms. In the formulations, the fattyacids can also be used as their esters with C1-C4 alcohols, includingbut not limited to methyl ester or ethyl esters.

Additionally, natural esters of the fatty acids can be utilized asIngredient A1, which include crude or processed triglyceride oils ofvegetable or animal origin such as soybean oil, linseed oil, castor oil,dehydrated castor oil, corn oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, canolaoil, fish oils, lard oil, beef oil, oiticica oil, tung oil, and talloil, or their combinations. The suitable processed oils can be thoseprocessed by means of refining, heat polymerization,isomerization-conjugation, boiling, blowing, epoxidation, dehydration,copolymerization with ethylenic monomers selected from but not limitedto the group of acrylate, methacrylate, styrene, acrylamide,acrylonitrile, vinyl carboxylate esters and vinyl halides, mixturesthereof, and salts thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the suitableoils may be the crude and refined oils available, for example, fromArcher Daniels Midland Company, Decatur, Ill., USA; blown, and boiledplant oils available, for example, from Cargill Inc., Minn., USA;epoxidized oils available, for example, under the trade name Vikoflex®from ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc., Pa., USA; dehydrated castor oil available,for example, under the trade name Castung from G.R. O'Shea Company,Ill., USA; acrylated soybean oil available, for example, from SartomerCompany, Pa., USA.

The fatty acid amides of Ingredient A1 are preferably represented by thecondensation products of fatty acids with alkyl polyamines. The suitablealkyl polyamines can be exemplified by but are not limited to ethylenediamine, diethylene triamine, and triethylene tetramine.

Ingredient A1 may also comprise other ionic and nonionic surfactants ormixtures of thereof. The ionic surfactants may include anionic,zwitterionic, and cationic surfactants.

In an exemplary embodiment one may assist the formation of instantemulsions by “salting out” the hydrolysable surfactants of Ingredient A1using a base, such as ammonia, amine, or alkali, whereby increasing thepH of the emulsion formulation to higher than 7.

A co-solvent may be added to the present emulsions to increase theirstability. The suitable co-solvents can be selected from the group thatincludes but is not limited to polyoxyalkylene homopolymers andcopolymers, straight chain or branched mono and polyhydric aliphatic oraromatic alcohols, and their monomeric, oligomeric, or polymericalkoxylates.

In the principal embodiment of the present invention, the instant CGMcompositions are prepared as water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsions.

For a successful application, CGM composition must be homogeneouslydistributed in the precipitation environment to ensure its unimpededcontact with the fine particulate. Traditional waterless CGMformulations are prepared as solutions of functional ingredients in anoil carrier. The oil carrier is essential for helping distribute the CGMproduct in the green liquor or seed slurry stream. Still, tohomogeneously blend an oil formulation into water based precipitationliquor significant mechanical energy is required. In this way, theemulsions of the present invention have a distinct advantage over thewaterless formulations. The functional ingredients of these emulsionsare already dispersed in water environment due to chemical forces. Thesechemical forces aid the mechanical forces to faster and more uniformlydistribute the CGM product within the process stream. The availabilityof these chemical forces makes it also possible to reduce the amount ofcarrier oil present in CGM formulations without sacrificing performance.This in turn is beneficial for the plants concerned with the amount ofexternal hydrocarbons added to their precipitation circuit.

Longer chain saturated fatty acids, such as stearic acid, are solid atroom temperature and thus difficult to formulate into a liquid. The sameapplies to other suitable materials such as fatty amides that are notwater or oil soluble, but when used in emulsion can be incorporated intoa CGM product in a broad range of concentrations.

The instant CGM formulations prepared as microemulsions are preferred.Microemulsions are significantly different in structure from regularemulsions. Regular emulsions are comprised of separate oil droplets inwater or water droplets in oil with a sharp transition between the twophases. Microemulsions have a particle size in the range from 10 to 600nm, so that they appear as clear or opalescent one-phase formulations.

Unlike regular emulsions, microemulsions are thermodynamically stable.This means that microemulsions form spontaneously when the componentsare brought together and stay stable as long as the components areintact. Thus, their manufacturing may be reduced to simple kneadingwithout the need for expensive high energy mixing. Also, microemulsionsare not prone to separation or settling, which results in their longstorage stability. Only gentle mixing is required to restoremicroemulsions upon their freezing or high temperature exposure.

The emulsions of the present invention are designed to incorporate morethan 15% oil carrier. Earlier investigators, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.6,168,767, found that CGM compositions can be prepared from blends ofsurfactants that may contain water but preferably contain substantiallyno water, while incorporating not more than 15% by weight of oilcarrier. A thorough investigation of this contention is presented in theexamples below. It reveals that the presence of more than 15% oilcarrier is essential for a high performance of a CGM formulation.

The emulsified crystal growth modifier may be introduced into theprecipitation liquor via various routes. In one embodiment, theemulsified crystal growth modifier is added to the precipitation liquorat the following steps of a Bayer process: a) to a precipitation feedliquor, b) to a seed slurry or other input stream to a precipitationtank, c) directly into a precipitation tank, and d) a combinationthereof.

The emulsified crystal growth modifier can be added to the precipitationliquor via various modes of addition such as an in-line injection of thecomposition.

The amount of crystal growth modifier required to produce desirableeffect depends upon the precipitation process parameters. Most often,this amount is determined by the surface area of available hydratedalumina solids in the precipitation liquor. The solids comprise thealuminum hydroxide introduced as seed or originated as new crystals oragglomerates during the decomposition of precipitation liquor. Thesuitable amount of crystal growth modifier can range from about 0.01 toabout 30 mg per square meter of the available aluminum hydroxide seedarea, and preferably, from about 0.1 to about 15 mg per square meter.Commonly, less than about 8 mg per square meter of CGM can be used.

In case the available aluminum hydroxide area may not be reliablydetermined, the precipitation operators can dose the crystal growthmodifier in relation to liquor flow by volume. In this case, the crystalgrowth modifier amount may range from about 0.01 to about 400 mg/literof precipitation liquor, preferably from about 0.05 to about 200mg/liter of precipitation liquor. Commonly less than about 100 mg/literof CGM can be used.

The addition of the crystal growth modifier product to the precipitationliquor reduces the percent of alumina trihydrate crystal fines formed inthe Bayer process substantially and thereby increases the yield ofalumina trihydrate crystals of optimal particle size.

The examples below are offered to aid in understanding the presentinvention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope thereof.

EXAMPLES

The foregoing may be better understood by reference to the followingexamples, which are intended to illustrate methods for carrying out theinvention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Precipitation Test Procedure:

Each set of tests was run using either fresh pregnant liquor obtainedfrom an alumina plant or using reconstituted pregnant liquor prepared byadding alumina trihydrate the plant spent liquor. Typical starting A/Cratio for liquors used in all tests was in the range 0.66-0.72 to0.66-0.75.

All precipitation tests were performed in 250-mL Nalgene® bottlesrotated end-over-end, at approximately 10-15 rpm, in an Intronicstemperature-controlled water bath. Approximately 200 mL of liquor wasaccurately weighed into a series of bottles. The additive, whererequired was dosed to the appropriate bottles and all the bottles werethen placed in the rotating bath for equilibration at the given testtemperature (˜20 minutes). After equilibration, the bottles wereremoved, quickly charged with the required quantity of seed andimmediately returned to the water bath. The bottles were rotated for thegiven test duration.

On completion of the test, the bottles were removed from the bath and 10mL of a sodium gluconate solution (400 g/L) was added to the remainingslurry and mixed well to prevent any further precipitation. The solidswere collected by vacuum filtration and were thoroughly washed with hotdeionized water and dried at 110° C. The particle size distribution wasdetermined on a Malvern Particle Sizer using a method of laserdiffraction that is well known in the art. The effect of CGM on theparticle size distribution is inferred from the increase of the percentof particles sized greater than 45 μm in the precipitation productrelatively to an undosed control sample.

Example 1

The tests used the precipitation procedure as described above. Theliquor was fresh pregnant liquor with A/C=0.711. The CGM dose was 50ppm. The charge of the standard seed was 75 g/L. The seed was DF225alumina trihydrate obtained from R.J. Marshall Company, Southfield,Mich. The five-hour test was conducted at 75° C.

Table 1 lists the composition and performance of the instantmicroemulsions employing different amounts of oil carrier. Thesurfactant, oil and other components are the same for all formulationslisted. The %+45 μm fraction data listed is the average of triplicatesamples.

TABLE 1 Effect of increasing oil content on the performance of CGMemulsion formulations. Composition Other Treatment Surfactant Oil Watercomponents % + 45 μm Undosed Control 60.2 Emulsion A 15 0 71 14 62.2Emulsion B 15 15 56 14 65.2 Emulsion C 15 30 41 14 67.7 Emulsion D 15 4526 14 67.3 Emulsion E 15 60 11 14 67.4

The results indicate that Emulsion A employing no oil carrier providesthe lowest increase in %+45 μm fraction relative to the undosed controlsample and as a result is the least active CGM formulation.Surprisingly, the oil, despite having no activity in coarseningtrihydrate precipitation when used alone, results in increased CGMactivity when emulsion formulations contain increased concentrations ofoil.

Example 2

This example demonstrates that maximizing the amount of oil component byeliminating the water content of the formulation (formulation 1) resultsin an effective CGM that increases the %+45 μm fraction relative to theundosed control sample. However, emulsion formulas containingsignificantly less oil but having the three vital components ofsurfactant, oil and water in appropriate proportions are found to beequally effective.

All emulsions in this example were prepared as clear microemulsionscomprised of the same surfactant, oil and additional components. Thewaterless formulation 1 also used the same surfactant and oil as thatused in the emulsions.

The tests used the precipitation procedure as previously outlined. Theliquor was fresh pregnant liquor, A/C=0.707. The CGM dose was 50 ppm.The test was conducted using the same seed type and charge, holdingtime, and temperature as in Example 1. The %+45 μm fraction data listedis the average of triplicate samples.

TABLE 2 Performance of Emulsions as compared to a Waterless Formulation.Composition Other Treatment Surfactant Oil Water components % + 45 μmUndosed Control 65.3 Formulation 1 15 85 0 0 71.2 Emulsion F 15 20 41 2471.5 Emulsion G 15 20 36 19 71.2

Example 3

A series of CGM emulsion compositions were tested under the sameconditions as in the previous example using a different batch of freshpregnant liquor, A/C=0.707. The test was conducted using the same seedtype and charge, holding time, and temperature as in Example 1. The %+45μm fraction data listed in Table 3 is the average of triplicate samples.

Table 3 presents the compositions of the emulsions as compared to thewaterless Formulation 2. The emulsions were prepared using a differentsurfactant to that used in the waterless Formulation 2. However, despitethe lower oil content the emulsion formulas are shown to be equal to ormore effective at coarsening the precipitated product, resulting in agreater increase in the %+45 μm fraction compared to the undosed controlsample.

TABLE 3 Performance of Emulsions as compared to a Waterless formulation.Composition Other Treatment Surfactant Oil Water components % + 45 μmUndosed Control 67.0 Formulation 2  15* 85 0 0 74.2 Emulsion L 15 20 4124 74.2 Emulsion M 15 20 36 19 76.2 *Surfactant in formulation 2 isdifferent to that used in emulsions L and M.

Example 4

A series of CGM formulations were tested using the same generalconditions as previously described. The test was conducted using freshplant liquor and the same seed type as in earlier examples. Seed chargewas 150 g/l, holding time was 4 hours and temperature was 80° C. Thestart liquor A/C=0.75 and the %+45 μm fraction data listed in Table 4 isthe average of triplicate samples for the control and duplicate samplesfor dosed treatments.

This example further demonstrates that an emulsion of this inventioncontaining a blend of surfactants (to a total composition of 15%), waterand oil can be produced and that such a formulation is more effectivethan a waterless formulation. Note that the waterless formulations inthis case are not exclusively surfactant/oil mixtures but also containother non-water components. The results below indicate that Emulsion Ncontaining 35% water, together with the surfactant and oil componentsprovided much more effective coarsening than Formulations 3 and 4.

TABLE 4 Performance of an emulsion product compared to Waterlessformulations. Composition (% w/w) Other Treatments Surfactant Oil Watercomponents % + 45 μm Undosed Control 80.0 Formulation 3 2 95 0 3 83.8Formulation 4 5 92 0 3 84.0 Emulsion N 15* 17 35 33 86.0 *Surfactantblend

Example 5

CGM formulations were tested using the same general conditions aspreviously described. The test was conducted using the same seed type asin earlier examples. Seed charge was 75 g/l, holding time was 4 hoursand temperature was 78° C. The %+45 μm reaction data listed in Table 5is the average of triplicate samples all treatments.

This example again demonstrates that the performance of emulsionscontaining more than 15% oil, together with water and surfactant, areeffective CGMs and perform equal to or better than a waterlessFormulation 5.

All emulsions in this example were prepared as clear microemulsions

TABLE 5 Performance of emulsion products compared to a Waterlessformulation. Composition (% w/w) Other Treatments Surfactant Oil Watercomponents % + 45 um Undosed Control 63.5 Formulation 5 10 90 0 0 69.0Emulsion P 15 16 44 25 67.9 Emulsion Q 15 25 35 25 69.5 Emulsion R 15 2537.5 22.5 69.7

What is claimed is:
 1. A composition for enhancing production of crystalagglomerates from a precipitation liquor crystallization comprising: atleast one surfactant, an oil in an amount greater than 15% by weight,and water, incorporated as a microemulsion having an average particlesize ranging from 10 nm to 600 nm.
 2. The composition of claim 1,wherein the at least one surfactant comprises a fatty component selectedfrom the group consisting of: a fatty acid of natural origin, a fattyacid of synthetic origin, a salt of a fatty acid of natural origin, asalt of a fatty acid of synthetic origin, and combinations thereof. 3.The composition of claim 2, wherein the fatty component comprises analkyl backbone having at least four carbon atoms.
 4. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the oil comprises at least one of the following: analiphatic hydrocarbon, an aromatic hydrocarbon, a ketone, an ether, anester, a monohydric alcohol, a polyhydric alcohol, and a carboxylicacid.
 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one surfactantcomprises a saturated fatty acid having an alkyl backbone of at least 8carbon atoms.
 6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least onesurfactant comprises a co-solvent selected from the group consisting ofa polyoxyalkylene homopolymer, a polyoxyalkylene copolymer, a straightchain monohydric aliphatic alcohol, a branched chain monohydricaliphatic alcohol, a straight chain polyhydric aliphatic alcohol, abranched chain polyhydric aliphatic alcohol, a straight chain monohydricaromatic alcohol, a branched chain monohydric aromatic alcohol, astraight chain polyhydric aromatic alcohol, a branched chain polyhydricaromatic alcohol, a monomeric straight chain monohydric aliphaticalcoxylate, a monomeric branched chain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate,a monomeric straight chain polyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, a monomericbranched chain polyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, a monomeric straightchain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate, a monomeric branched chainmonohydric aromatic alkoxylate, a monomeric straight chain polyhydricaromatic alkoxylate, a monomeric branched chain polyhydric aromaticalkoxylate, an oligomeric straight chain monohydric aliphaticalcoxylate, an oligomeric branched chain monohydric aliphaticalcoxylate, an oligomeric straight chain polyhydric aliphaticalkoxylate, an oligomeric branched chain polyhydric aliphaticalkoxylate, an oligomeric straight chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate,an oligomeric branched chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate, anoligomeric straight chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, an oligomericbranched chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, a polymeric straightchain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, a polymeric branched chainmonohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, a polymeric straight chain polyhydricaliphatic alkoxylate, a polymeric branched chain polyhydric aliphaticalkoxylate, a polymeric straight chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate, apolymeric branched chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate, a polymericstraight chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, a polymeric branchedchain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, and combinations thereof.
 7. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the oil comprises at least one of thefollowing: tall oil fatty acid, tall oil fatty ester, tall oil fattyamide, a precursor of tall oil fatty acid, a precursor of tall oil fattyester, and a precursor of tall oil fatty amide.
 8. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one surfactant comprises from 0.1 to 30%by weight of the composition, wherein the at least one surfactantcomprises a compound selected from the group consisting of stearic acid,stearic ester, stearic amide, a precursor of stearic acid, a precursorof stearic ester, a precursor of stearic amide, and combinationsthereof; and the oil comprises from 15.1 to 50% by weight of thecomposition, and wherein the oil comprises mineral oil.
 9. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the at least one surfactant comprisesfrom 0.1 to 30% by weight of the composition, wherein the at least onesurfactant comprises a plurality of fatty components selected from thegroup consisting of: a fatty acid, a fatty ester, a fatty amide,precursors thereof, multiples thereof, and combinations thereof; and theoil comprises from 15.1 to 50% by weight of the composition, and whereinthe oil comprises mineral oil.
 10. A composition for enhancingproduction of crystal agglomerates from a Bayer liquor crystallizationcomprising: at least one surfactant, an oil in an amount ranging fromgreater than 15% to about 60% by weight, and water, incorporatedtogether as a microemulsion having an average particle size ranging from10 nm to 600 nm; wherein the at least one surfactant comprises aco-solvent selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyalkylenehomopolymer, a polyoxyalkylene copolymer, a straight chain monohydricaliphatic alcohol, a branched chain monohydric aliphatic alcohol, astraight chain polyhydric aliphatic alcohol, a branched chain polyhydricaliphatic alcohol, a straight chain monohydric aromatic alcohol, abranched chain monohydric aromatic alcohol, a straight chain polyhydricaromatic alcohol, a branched chain polyhydric aromatic alcohol, amonomeric straight chain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, a monomericbranched chain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, a monomeric straightchain polyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, a monomeric branched chainpolyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, a monomeric straight chain monohydricaromatic alkoxylate, a monomeric branched chain monohydric aromaticalkoxylate, a monomeric straight chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, amonomeric branched chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, an oligomericstraight chain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, an oligomeric branchedchain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, an oligomeric straight chainpolyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, an oligomeric branched chain polyhydricaliphatic alkoxylate, an oligomeric straight chain monohydric aromaticalkoxylate, an oligomeric branched chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate,an oligomeric straight chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, anoligomeric branched chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, a polymericstraight chain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, a polymeric branchedchain monohydric aliphatic alcoxylate, a polymeric straight chainpolyhydric aliphatic alkoxylate, a polymeric branched chain polyhydricaliphatic alkoxylate, a polymeric straight chain monohydric aromaticalkoxylate, a polymeric branched chain monohydric aromatic alkoxylate, apolymeric straight chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, a polymericbranched chain polyhydric aromatic alkoxylate, and combinations thereof.11. A composition for enhancing production of crystal agglomerates froma precipitation liquor crystallization comprising: at least onesurfactant, an oil in an amount ranging from greater than 15% to about95% by weight, and water, incorporated together as a microemulsionhaving an average particle size ranging from 10 nm to 600 nm; whereinthe oil comprises a tall oil component selected from the groupconsisting of: tall oil fatty acid, tall oil fatty ester, tall oil fattyamide, precursors thereof, and combinations thereof.
 12. The compositionof claim 3, wherein the fatty acid component further comprises asurfactant functional group attached directly to the alkyl backbone, thesurfactant functional group selected from the group consisting of: acarboxylic acid, an ester, an aldehyde, an anhydride, a sulfatefunctional group, and combinations thereof.
 13. The composition of claim3, wherein the fatty acid component further comprises a surfactantfunctional group attached to the alkyl backbone via at least onesuccinic alkyl linkage, the surfactant functional group selected fromthe group consisting of: a carboxylic acid, an ester, an aldehyde, ananhydride, a sulfate functional group, and combinations thereof.
 14. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the at least one surfactant comprises acondensation product of a reaction comprising a fatty acid and an alkylpolyamine.
 15. The composition of claim 14, wherein the alkyl polyamineis selected from the group consisting of: ethylene diamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylene tetramine, and combinations thereof.
 16. Thecomposition of claim 1, wherein the oil is present in an amount up toabout 60% by weight.
 17. The composition of claim 11, wherein the oil ispresent in an amount up to about 60% by weight.